The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-07-22
THOROUGH TUITION.

Yesterday the HERALD representa-
tive visited the Fort-street School. in
order to examine some of the work
done there, free from the hamperine
crowd Of closing day. Prof M. NJ.
Scott, Principal, cordially welcomed
the visitor, and with Mrs, Hendry.
teacher Of the intermediate depart
ment, showed him exercises of the
pupils in various branches. All round
the walls Of the Principals room hung
specimens Of drawing, the subjects be.
ing photographs, prints, the human
face divine" from life, aud objects in
nature. Everyone Of the pictures
evinced remarkable degree Of skill in
execution, while many Of them showed
unmistakable artistic talent A fashion
plate design chalked on a blackboard
suggested ability that might stand the
delineator in good stead wherever
there is an opening for Industrial art of
that description. Several portraits
were characterized by very natural
heads and faces. besides being repre-.
sented as good likenesses. Some day
such talent and training may have a
chance Of utilization m Honoluln
through the establishment Of illustrated
journalism requiring designers and
engravers.
Chief Of the specialties of the Fort.
street School is undoubtedly its teach.
ing Of English. Principal Scott is
most enthusiastic on this branch, hay
ing proved the excellence Of his method
in Japan as we'll as here, by exceed
ingIy gratifying results The essence
Of the method consists in making the
pupils speak and write the language
correctly and in agreeable style, as well
as grounding them in the theory Of
how those things should be done.
knowledge conveyed in standard
books being impaired to the pupils by
reading and study they are required to
express in their own language by writ
ten exercises. Also, in every branch
Of instruction they are taught to OBJ
serve the utmost precision, in writing
examples, as to capitals, punctuation,
and style. Thus the pupils are trained
in proper English while acquiring every
other species Of instruction taught in
the school Results are eloquent,
above what rough newspaper sketch
can convey, in attesting the value Of
this undertaking aim to secure accurate
expression as well as absorption Of
ideas and facts The Principal pro-
duced heap Of English compositions,
not written for public examination pur-
poses, but the off handed work OF the
scholars at their desks Any Of them
selected at random revealed scarcely
an error on the minutest scrutiny,while
there was felicity of expression and a
roundness Of phrasing which many a
professional author might envy. Some
of them evinced the possession of in
formation not obtained from the class
studies, showing that the writers thus
cry had b, gun to build well upon
the sure foundation lad.
A cursory glance al a similar oollec-
ton Of compositions in Mrs. Hendry's
room, also an inspection Of exercise S
left on the blackboards in the primary
department, proved that the dominat-
ing idea Of the principal governed the
work from bottom TO top Of the school.
The exercises OF the pupils in the in
termediary department, not only in
composition but algebra and geometry.
were models Of accuracy and neatness
capitals, punctuation marks, and
technical signs being all correctly
placed.
When il is remembered that the roll
Of scholars comprises children of many
different mother tongues, and that the
most excellent attainments in English
are not proportlonately more frequent
among those born 10 that speech thar
among others, the value Of the tuition
impaired 10 this school may be to some
extent realized.